‘An evening to celebrate the extraordinary talent of Bradfield performers across the generations; from music to spoken word, dance to drama, the 175 Gala will be an evening to remember’
The billing did not disappoint. The Greek Theatre reached capacity several times on the booking system but space was found to ensure that the maximum number of attendees could safely attend the event. The performance was also live-streamed to cater for an eager online audience, keen not to miss out on the electric atmosphere in the Greek Theatre.
Alumni Jonny Saunders (F 88-93), Eve Niker (K 08-10) and George Leaver (H 17-22) took to the stage as compères, delivering slick lines, singing and clapping; their repertoire even included comedy, not all of it intended. Nonetheless, their witty patter and energy held the bonanza, overflowing with Bradfieldian talent together, if not entirely to schedule.
Performances included musical sets from alumni; the Lottie Klafkowska Band, the OB Jazz Band, the ‘Trombone Trio’ and standout performances with ‘Flair on a G-String’ and the appallingly named but brilliantly delivered songs by ‘Buckets’.
Pupil musicians acquitted themselves with excellence as ‘Take 4’ and ‘The Musical Theatre Company’ and combined seamlessly with the alumni as ‘Bradfield Voices’ past and present.
Pupil dancers were phenomenal and showcased the extensive range of their superbly choreographed dancing skills in their multiple stage appearances throughout the evening.
Spoken word ranged from the Harrison Charles (G 09-14) set which trod a line so fine as to be tackled only by this expert tightrope walker to a parody on Shakesperian actors, stress on the ‘o’, featuring the Headmaster as a surprise guest performer. The things you only find out when they are leaving…
On stage, performances were interspersed with the compère’s reaching into the crowd for sources of Bradfield community inspiration including Frau Acton, Roger Wall, Trevor Kidson and Chris Saunders (SCR 64-80), where Jonny most certainly came unstuck, but it afforded a good deal of amusement.
The Gala also marked the end of the Bradfield Giving Day in support of the 175 Bursary Campaign. It was therefore fitting that Bradfield’s bursary award holders occupied prominent roles from which to demonstrate their talent; Eve Niker as compère, whilst Katie Mazur (K 13-18) wowed the audience with her ‘Flair on a G-string’ performance which was greeted with tumultuous applause.
The biggest round of applause should, however, be reserved for Head of Music Events, Mark Etherington who managed to deliver this extravaganza of an evening seemingly without a hint of fuss or fluster… All this having already coordinated Jeremy Ball’s memorial as well as Jazz on a Summer’s Evening but a week before, not to mention all the pre-exam preparation in his role as an MFL teacher. Quite simply breathtaking, we are all exhausted just thinking about it.
You can still enjoy the magic of the evening by watching the event recording 175 Gala evening recording.
